On Slowing Down, Taking Your Time & Rest

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You've all heard the old saying, "slow and steady wins the race". Often I think that there is more truth to it than I like to admit. I tend to race ahead and chafe at the bit. In high school I was always reading ahead, looking ahead and thinking ahead with my work. Sewing often frustrates me because of how long the process can take from marking a pattern to finishing a garment. I can't remember the last time that it took me longer than a week to finish a novel - usually it takes me less than a day. In my worklife I tend push hard & take on more projects than is practical because I can't stand leaving them for someone else. Sometimes I find it hard to sit through the entire length of a movie without looking up the ending on Wikipedia. I'm known for trying to make it through difficult exercise sessions when I'm sick, working on complex projects when I'm so tired I can't concentrate and having trouble asking for help or a break.

Being a compulsive "pusher", and suffering from depression are two things that don't really mix. It is literally impossible to do both of them at once. Something has to give. I've learnt that sometimes it pays to go slow. Sometimes stopping to catch your breath can be the difference between burning out & powering through to the end. Deep, slow breaths do wonders for making you less anxious. Doing one thing at a time can be the difference between getting everything done, and getting nothing done. Sleep is never wasteful - in fact, it is impossible to function properly without enough of it. When you feel like you're treading water and going nowhere it's ok to ask for someone else to share the load. It can actually be fun to sit back & relax, and leave worrying about how things are going to turn out to someone else.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. No human can push themselves on, and on without mental & physical rest. If you feel like you are doing too much, then do a bit less for a while. Chances are that some of the things you feel need to be done right now, really don't. Chances are that some of those things aren't even very important. Sometimes I feel like I have to be everywhere at once and I have to do everything at once. Perhaps you feel that way sometimes too. The fact is, I don't and you don't. There's nothing wrong with taking your time. Slow it down, chill out, have a rest - both your mind & body will thank you for it.

Magazines Worth Reading

Hello there lovelies,

In a recent post I mentioned that I'd given up reading traditional women's magazines, like Cosmopolitan and Cleo. I'd just gotten to the point where I was compulsively spending money on these magazines, but didn't feel like I was getting anything out of them. I ranted extensively to The Boyfriend about weight loss/"fat-bashing" articles disguised as body love articles. I ranted extensively about articles on feminism running in the same magazines as articles on how to trick your boyfriend into proposing to you (apparently I've already failed - I moved in with The Boyfriend, and no-one's going to buy the cow when you're giving out the milk for free or something). But still, every month I had to buy my glossies because I was used to it, and I didn't think there were any better publications aimed at women.

Oh boy, was I mistaken. I've written at length before about my love of reading magazines aimed at teenagers because of their positivity. But it felt like I'd discovered the door through the wardrobe into Narnia when I realised that there were actual women's magazines with similar vibes. Here's the run-down on the magazines I've been loving lately:


Yen: I'd describe Yen as the the fashion & beauty magazine for the intelligent, artistically inclined woman. I am consistently absorbed by their articles, which are about everything from the political situation in Pakistan, to the culture of professional dog shows, to examining which cult movies are the most underrated. Plus, their fashion shoots are pretty dang amazing.

"YEN irreverently explores the social, cultural and political issues that face women around the world and at home. YEN promotes and helps develop the work of women across every creative, sporting and business pursuit. YEN looks beneath the surface, to approach health and beauty as one element of a holistic approach to lifestyle." - from the Yen facebook page.

Frankie: Frankie is pretty much my favourite magazine right now - and, it was recommended to me by some of you guys on Twitter! If you're a person of the quirky, artsy type then this magazine is probably for you. It is full of beautiful photography, adorable illustrations, crafty projects, and engrossing articles. I am particularly fond of their features that put the spotlight on the regular lives of creative types - their homes, workspaces, families, weddings etc.

"frankie magazine is a national bi-monthly based in Australia, aimed at women (and men) looking for a magazine that’s as smart, funny, sarcastic, friendly, cute, rude, arty, curious and caring as they are." -from the Frankie website.
Peppermint: Peppermint is a fairly new discovery for me. At the time that I found it, I had taken to randomly buying magazines with pretty covers, and seeing which ones stuck. Peppermint was a sure winner. An eco-friendly fashion & lifestyle magazine, Peppermint showcases the work of independent designers, examines consumption in our society, and offers lots of ideas for ways to "up-cycle" your life. My favourite feature is the "sewing school" - there is a free down-loadable pattern & sewing instructions with each issue.

"Snowballing since the word go, Peppermint is the green fashion magazine, celebrating eco and ethical style with a fun, fresh, intelligent and positive spin. It was created for the rapidly-growing number of consumers who appreciate good design, fashion and creativity, but also care about social and environmental issues and where their clothing comes from. Promoting individuality, DIY personal style, respect and ‘slow fashion’, Peppermint encourages readers to get off the trend mill by showcasing the best in eco and handmade design from Australia and the rest of the world. " - from the Peppermint website.

Runners-up in the favourite magazine competition include: Fallen, Lula, Nylon, i-D.

But what about you lovelies? Do you have any stand-out favourite magazines? Do you even bother reading magazines? Do you think that typical women's mags have more merit than I'm seeing? Let me know!

Until next time, xo.

Permission

Photo by me.

Hello there lovelies,

Sometimes I think we are all too hard on ourselves, especially when we're sad. And sometimes I think having so many people telling us how easy it is to be happy actually makes it harder to achieve. Sometimes being happy is easy - usually, when we're already happy. But sometimes, it can be the hardest thing in the world. And when it is the hardest thing in the world it sucks to have people telling you it's so easy to think positive. Instead, I say that when it's hard to be happy that's ok. Not being happy right now doesn't mean that you're never going to be happy again. It doesn't mean that you're weak, or just not trying hard enough.

All it means is that, right now, you're sad. And that's cool.

You have permission to be sad. You have permission to cry, and scream and punch walls (just don't leave holes if you're in a rental). Don't try and force yourself to be happy if you aren't. Certainly take some time to think about why you aren't happy, and what you can do to change your circumstances, but don't force the happiness. Getting happy shouldn't be about trying to force the feeling into existence, just because. Getting happy should be about finding out what works for you. Pretending you're happy when you aren't just makes it harder to figure out what actually makes you happy. So if you're not happy, then just be sad. Eventually you'll spin on back round to happy - real happy.

Until next time, xo.

I Am Not Ok.

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Hey there lovelies,

I want you all to repeat after me: I am not ok. Even if you're ok right now you should still say it with me. I am not ok. See, it's not that hard. You can all say it. It's being able to say it when you really mean it that is the trick. No matter how "ok"you are right now, you won't always feel that way. It is impossible. Anyone who tells you that you can be ok 100% of the time is either lying, or delusional. So when you aren't feeling ok, it's important that you can let people know. Maybe all you need is someone to listen for a minute. Maybe you need a fullscale intervention of epic proportions. Either way, you're never going to get those things if you're not prepared to admit that you aren't ok. Other people can't help you unless you let them know that you need help.

You can't handle everything that life throws at you on your own. Go ahead and say it. I am not ok. Those four little words can make a hell of a difference when it comes to getting you the help you need, and helping those around you understand what is going on in your head. If you need some help don't be afraid to say it, and say it loud. I AM NOT OK. Don't be afraid to let people know that you aren't ok. You aren't helping anyone by pretending to be alright when you aren't - not even yourself. So whenever you need to, just say I'm not ok.

Until next time, xo.

Conversations With My 13 Year Old Self

A young( & much littler than 13 year old) me.

Hello there lovelies,

I was looking through one of my old online journals when I found this - a letter to myself at 13, that I wrote in 2008. While now I would probably add some more practical things to this letter (such as, dude, learn how to cook and iron BEFORE you leave home!), I think that this would have been more valuable knowledge.

Dear little Stacey,

You are beautiful. No matter what she says, you're beautiful. And most especially, no matter what he says, you are beautiful. One day there will be someone who loves you, and appreciates you, just as you are. That's right, you won't have to change. And you don't have to change. One day, someone will help you pick up the pieces, and finally mend. You won't have to worry about the things you've done, because they'll understand. You don't have to compromise your own values and beliefs, because they will understand. You don't need to drown in that bottle, or pick up that joint to numb the feelings that you're feeling, because they will understand. You don't need to be afraid of your body, your sexuality or your desires, because they will understand. Most importantly, you don't need to worry about being abandoned, because they will understand. You don't need to lose weight, or dress like a slut, or put on make-up, because they'll think you're more beautiful as you.

I know that there's things happening to you, and things that will happen to you that I can't fix, or change. But just know, eventually they will be reconciled. Eventually you won't feel like you're alone in a crowded room. I know that there's nothing I can say to convince you that you're perfect, and you're loved, and one day you'll be loved the way you've always wanted to be, but I know that it's true.

The only one holding you back is you.

Love, big Stacey.

How about you lovelies? What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance? Are there things that you wish you had have known sooner? No matter how bad the journey was, I'm glad that I finally learnt the things that I wish I had known all along.

Until next time, xo.

Hey Mainstream Media, I Am:

Hello lovelies,

Now, imagine that some incredibly smart young girl decided to create a pool of images on flickr where people took pictures of themselves holding signs that say exactly what they think of mainstream media. Wouldn't that be great? If you answered yes, then you should check out the flickr pool "Hey Mainstream Media! I Am:", where people finish that sentence and voice their opinion on the media through pictures. This is another project masterminded by Jamie Keiles of The Seventeen Magazine Project, and the pool is well worth checking out. Here are a few of my personal favourite images from the group.

If you're reading this, then you should submit an image to the pool, and keep this project going. What would you say to mainstream media if you had the chance? Say it with signs, and let me know!

Until next time, xo.

Numbers

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Hello there lovelies,

Have you ever realised how much we all obsess about numbers? Weight, height, waist circumference, Body Mass Index, 30 minutes of exercise, 10,000 steps a day, Grade Point Average, clothing sizes, shoe size, kilojoule/calorie intake, bra size, bank balance, weekly income, debt repayments, and the list goes on.

I weight 71 kilograms - my highest weight was 89 kilos, and my lowest 61 kilos. I have a 74cm waist circumference. I'm between 167 and 169cms tall, depending on who does the measuring, and how straight I stand up. I have a BMI of around 24.9. My cumulative GPA from three years of a psychology degree was 6.0 - highest GPA being a 6.25, and the lowest GPA 5.85. I wear a size 10-12 shirt, and size 12-14 pants. My bank balance is pretty much $0, my weekly income is reasonable, and I'm in more debt than I should be. But strangely, none of these numbers bother me much anymore.

When it comes down to it, they are just numbers. They don't say anything about how happy I am, how successful I am, or how much my friends, family and The Boyfriend love me. These numbers don't tell me anything about how smart I am, how creative I am, or how beautiful I am. And your numbers are no different. They're just numbers - just a way of quantifying something so that it can be compared to other similar things. No matter how big or small your numbers are, they don't make you any more or less as a person. They're just numbers. So remind me again why we care?

Until next time, xo.

BRB, Saving A Princess

Hello there lovelies,

My lack of posting this week isn't due to my laziness, but my reignited obsession with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (which is almost the same as my laziness, but not quite). This may come as a shock to some, but I can be quite the little gamer when the mood strikes me, and this is one game that I come back to over and over. I first played it in primary school, and have since played the entire game through at least five times, and played the "child" part at least ten times. No matter how hard I have to shake my good old Nintendo 64, or how loudly I have to cry to make it keep working, I'll do it. I grew up with this game, and I like to think I've learned alot from it.

Anyone who is familiar with any game in the Zelda franchise will know that these games test your logic skills. They make you turn your brain inside out, wish you could burn holes into the T.V. with your eyes, and if you're anything like me, they make you swear and throw your controller across the room. But when it comes down to it, these games are more about brain than brawn. The enemies aren't particularly hard to beat - if you can figure out the trick to it. There is very little bloodshed, but lots of infuriatingly difficult puzzles. This is one of the main reasons I love Ocarina of Time - who wouldn't love a cool video game that exercises your mind and isn't reduced to mindless gore?

The other reason I love this game (apologies to anyone who I spoil, but this game did come out over 10 years ago) is that although you're trying to save a princess, she doesn't really need saving. At the end of the game, you find out that she is the one that has been helping you all along, and without her, you would have been useless. It is the princess who supplies the hero with all the things he needs to complete his quest - without Princess Zelda, Link wouldn't be a hero, just some dude blundering around in the dark. Call me crazy, but I think that this is pretty cool.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the Water Temple.

Until next time, xo.

P.S. Read the article by Vanessa, at Chicken Soup for the Dorky Soul that inspired all this madness.

Constantly Rereading

Hello there lovelies,

I've been reading much more than usual lately. Well, not really. When I say "more than usual", I mean "more than when I was going to University". Before that reading was my main hobby, and the main way I spent any free time I had. As a kid, I used to go to the library, borrow the maximum number of books I could, read them in a week, then return them and repeat. As you can imagine, I've read a large number of books in my time. But, there are a few that I return to over, and over again.

1. Galax- Arena, by Gillian Rubenstein

This was the first book that really introduced me to critical thinking, and in particular to the idea that you can't always believe something just because an adult says it. Galax-Arena is the story of Joella, Peter and Lianne (among others) - siblings who are kidnapped and trained to perform in an incredibly dangerous gymnastics show for an alien race. But everything is not as it seems. I'd recommend it even for older readers, because it really is an emotional journey.

2. Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien

My old favourite! I re-read the trilogy pretty much every year. I'm not going to describe the plot, as you must be living under a rock if you don't know the plot by now. But these books were the perfect escape from a drab, horrible world for a primary-school victim of bullying. Middle-Earth still seems more like home to me than reality!

4. Kushiel's Legacy (six-book series beginning with Kushiel's Dart), by Jacqueline Carey.

Oh my gosh, I can't even describe these books. I have never before read books that are so perfectly written, with such well-developed characters. Kushiel's Legacy is a work of art - you will laugh, cry, scream as you read these books. You will be horrified, and crushed, and uplifted, and ecstatic. However, I would avoid reading these if you have an aversion to sex, and particularly if you are disturbed by BDSM. The main character of the first three books, Phedre, is an anguisette - she is marked by the god Kushiel to find pleasure through pain. So yeah, if you don't like BDSM, don't read it, because it features pretty heavily. These are beautiful books though.

4. Luna-C, by Jutta Goetze

Luna-C is a snapshot into the lives of a group of people struggling to "make it" as a band. Written by the women who wrote the screenplay for The Saddle Club, of all things, it is actually a pretty gritty look at many angles of life. Mainly, it follows best friends Phoebe and Dale. Dale, who is beautiful, talented, and unsure of herself. Phoebe, loud and boisterous, who always feels second-best compared to her friend. This book is about making it in the music scene, but it is also about living, and the emotional turmoil of growing up. It is amazing, and depressing, and I always feel better after reading it.

5. Uglies, Pretties and Specials, by Scott Westefield.

My favourite series of science-fiction books. The star of Uglies, Pretties and Specials is Tally - an young Ugly, eagerly awaiting her sixteenth birthday when she will undergo a series of operations and finally become a Pretty. In this society, everyone is ugly until they reach 16, when they are surgically altered to conform to the highest standards of beauty. But then, Tally meets Shay, an Ugly who doesn't want the operation. This meeting turns her world upside down, and she discovers there is more to the operation - and her society than she ever knew. These books really make you think, and I love them to death.

6. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling.

Hahahaha. Ok, so we know there isn't really any deep and meaningful reason why I keep rereading the Harry Potter books. But they are fun, entertaining, and the characters are easy to relate to. Plus, who doesn't want imagine going to a high school where there get to learn how to turn beetles into buttons, and brew Shrinking Potion? That's what I thought.

Well there you have it. Those are the major books that I read over, and over again. I've read a few lately that might make it onto that list, but we'll have to wait a few years to see if they make the cut. What about you guys? Are you "readers"? And if so, do you have a list of books that you constantly reread?

Until next time, xo.

Hey, It's Ok!

Photo by me - Taken at Kiama, NSW 2009.

Hello there lovelies,

I thought it was about time for another one of these. So, remember, it's completely and totally ok for you:

To pass up a boozy night on the town to read a book, hang with your partner, or curl up on the couch with a DVD; to smile for no particular reason; to not smile for no particular reason; to own more crazy hats than you could ever possibly need; to be proud of the tiny biceps you're slowly cultivating; to watch your favourite TV shows/movies over and over again, until you know all the words; to secretly be madly in love with Chuck Bass (or Blair Waldorf for that matter); to be happy when everyone else is sad (or sad when everyone else is happy); to jump around like an idiot when you have pins & needles in your hand/foot; to listen to crazy ska bands; to decide not to brush your hair today; to have no real idea where your life 'is headed'; to drink so much iced coffee that it may have replaced your actual blood supply; to look in the mirror & think "Fuck, I'm hot"; to not wear high heels, or even skirts 90% of the time; to somehow feel more in control of your life because you finally bought a new yearly planner; to repeatedly say "I love (insert character here) during movies, about different characters; to not want to be a runway model; to pretty much exclusively wear the 3 for $12 Jay Jay's underwear because it's so damn cute; to spend time staring into nothingness; and to love your life so fiercely that it hurts.

Really, its ok! I promise.

Until next time, xo.

Radical Self Love - Because You're Worth It

Hello there lovelies,

You guys all probably know that amazing Gala Darling declared February the month of radical self love, which I though was quite rad. Learning to love yourself is something that is truly worth all the effort and trouble. You won't always do it quite right, just like loving anyone else in the world. Sometimes you'll stumble, and catch yourself being less than loving to yourself. Just like you have to work to cultivate any relationship, you have to work to cultivate radical self love. You have to believe that you are worth all the effort.

I've noticed that people in my life, and especially women, fall short of acheiving their goals because they don't really believe they are worth the end result. It's a waste of your precious time lovelies! How are you ever going to sell yourself to a potential employee if you don't think you are worth buying? How are you going to get that promotion if you don't think you are worth promoting? How are all those fabulous ideas in your head going to come to pass if you tell yourself they aren't worth trying? And of course, how are you going to love yourself if you don't think you're worth the love?

I'll tell you a really big secret - you are worth the love. Every single one of you is worthy of love, both from yourself, and other people. I know that's the bit that is hardest to figure out. I don't know why, but it seems to be far more accepted to put yourself down than to build yourself up. I think it is because when you stand up and tell the world how amazing you are, other people start to feel like maybe they aren't as amazing as you. Now that isn't true - everyone has something special about them, and I don't think we need to be jealous of another person's talents. But the more you believe you are worth it, the less it matters if other people are jealous, or nasty. You're worth the love, and their reactions say more about them than you. People who put you down because you are worth loving are people who haven't discovered that they are worth loving too!

So get out there and convince yourself that you are worth radical self love. Hold your head up high; speak up for yourself; wear those incredible "special occasion" clothes on any old normal day; go somewhere you have always wanted to go; get into your best lingerie and shimmy in front of the mirror to a cheesy song about how sexy you are; write lists of all the things about you that are amazing; read books that you love, even if you've read them a million times before; change your hair colour (or just your manicure); write love letters to yourself, and hide them inside your favourite household objects so that you find them again later; wear clothes that suit your shape regardless of the number on the tag; tear pages that make you happy out of magazines and make a scrapbook or inspiration board; put your name in for a new job that suits you better, and tell the potential employer exactly why you deserve it, and cut the crap! Cut out the negative self-talk, cut out putting yourself down to make other people feel better, and cut out that niggling feeling that you are not as good as someone else. You are amazing, and you're totally worth it. Remember that!

Until next time, xo.

Love Your Mind Etc.

Photo by Rafael da Costa

Hey there lovelies,

I know I spend a lot of time on this blog babbling away about body image - it's an important topic, and one that deserves plenty of voice. Sometimes though, I think that we focus so much on our bodies, and our appearance that we forget about the multitude of other things that are good about us. It is a good thing for us to value our bodies. You know, we need them to live, to get us where we have to go, and for a variety of other reasons. We should love our bodies, and treat them with the respect that they deserve. It's just that sometimes I think we all forget that we are so much more than our bodies. Sure, I feel great when I put the effort into keeping my body healthy and active, and when I can be bothered to shave my legs, get a nice haircut or wax my damn eyebrows. But, I don't need to do any of those things to be the person that I am. I have done plenty of amazing things, and I am amazing in plenty of ways that have nothing to do with how I look. And here's the kicker - so are you.

Just step back and think for a minute (and not about the size of your butt). I'm sure that there are things you love and value about yourself that have nothing to do with your outward appearance. Maybe you're the person who knows everything there is to know about Ancient Egypt, or you have the ability to make anyone you meet laugh milk out their nose. Perhaps you get straight A's in anything academic without even trying, or you can paint pictures that would make Picasso cry. You might even be the best shotputter you know, or have the uncanny ability to craft anything from secondhand materials. You could be an amazing public speaker/debater, or an actor/singer that can move people to tears. These things all have something in common - they have nothing to do with what you look like. Well, that and hearing about any one of these things would probably make you seem more interesting to someone you've only just met than an in-depth analysis of your beauty routine.

I can sew things that I'm happy to wear out in public.
I can happily discuss scientific theory with people I know.
I've spent three years studying psychology, and extending my knowledge about people.
I was once referred to as the "secret weapon" of my debating team.
I win awards for public speaking, and once wrote a short story that made someone cry.

I can read most novels in a day.

All these things make me proud, and I know you have your own. So love them! Find the things that you are incredible at, or that you really love about yourself and cultivate them. Read, laugh, love, speak, make, act, do whatever it is that you do more often. Even better if you can take some of the time you would usually spend obsessing over your appearance and channel it into something else. I'm not saying you shouldn't love your body, or spend lots of time learning how to take care of it, and feel your best. All I'm trying to do is remind you that you are so much more than what you look like - and I'm sure that one day you'll be glad that you spent time cultivating your relationship with those other parts of you. They are the ones that will hang around, long after your appearance changes. Remember, everything about you is worthy of being treasured.

Until next time, xo.

Get Organised, Today

Hello there lovelies!

Now, if any of you are anything like me, then you have a pile of stuff to get done and it seems like there are never enough hours in the day. But you can get organised, and in a few easy steps too!

1. Make a list of all the things that you need to get done, preferably on pretty, brightly coloured stationary, so that you're bound to look at it later. Be honest, and don't leave any tasks off your list.
   


2. Don't freak out at the size of your list! This is important. Again, if you're anything like me, your lists of things to do will be pretty damn big. But, you shouldn't let that stop you. No matter how big, accomplishing all the tasks on your list is not impossible.
   


3. Now go through your list, and decide which things are most important. Example: buy food wins out over brush the dogs teeth. Some things are always going to be more important than others, and they need more of your time and attention.
   


4. Get started on those important things! This is probably the hardest part, but really, is any of that stuff going to get done if you don't get started now? I know, I know, it's a beautiful day and you'd rather be at the beach/playing dodgeball/skydiving, but think how many future beautiful days could be saved with the sacrifice of a few hours of this one?
   


5. Also very important - don't sweat the small things! If you've gotten all the big things done, then it's probably not going to kill you if some of the small ones wait a few more days. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to be on top of everything, all the time. Give yourself some credit. You achieved something today right?

Simple as that guys. Don't get me wrong, I know that "simple" isn't as simple as it sounds - but it can be. All you need to do to get organised is get started.

Until next time, xo.

Love Your Mind - Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month

Hello there lovelies,

As I come back from a slightly extended absence, I've got a topic to talk about that's really close to my heart. I'm a little late to the party, but October is the Beyond Blue Anxiety and Depression Awareness (ADA) Month, obviously aimed to promote understanding and awareness of anxiety and depressive disorders. According to Beyond Blue, depression affects 1 in 5 people throughout their lifetime, and one in four people experience anxiety. That's a hell of a lot of people - and those figures include a lot of people that are near and dear to me. I've experienced depression firsthand, and I know what these disorders can do to people. So maybe it's not much, but I'll do my little bit to get the word out.

Beyond Blue makes it very easy to do just that. If you head on over to their website they have a range of online information, as well as packs that they'll send to you for free. Here are just a few ways you can help raise public awareness about these disorders:

• Order some information packs from Beyond Blue and distribute them to people you know, or around the workplace.
• Use one of the Beyond Blue woven shopping bags to carry stuff around.
• Wear a blue wristband for the month of October.
• Display a Beyond Blue fridge magnet at home or work.
• DIY yourself an ADA month t-shirt/bag/anything else you can think of.
• Download one of these Beyond Blue posters from the website and put it on your blog or just link to the website.
• If you've experienced anxiety or depression talk to people you know about your experiences - half the problem is that people still don't think of these disorders as a normal part of life!
• Download the anxiety and depression checklists at the Beyond Blue website, and check your family, friends, and of course yourself.
• Anonymously send an information pack to anyone you think may be experiencing anxiety or depression.

So seriously, if I haven't said it enough head on over to the Beyond Blue website and get involved. The more people there are getting the word out, the more those people who suffer from anxiety and depression will know they're not alone! Speak up for all those people who may not presently be able to speak up for themselves - they will thank you later. And I'll thank you too.

Until next time, xo.

Hey, It's Ok!

Photo by luana183

Hello there lovelies,

I've seen this type of article popping up in all my favourite fashion magazines late, so I thought I'd put my own spin on it. So, remember, it is completely ok for you:

To check your reflection in windows, toasters and various other shiny surfaces; to like pornography just as much as a man; to sulk like a five-year-old when you fall over and skin your knee (or ass, in my case); to laugh until your sides hurt at cheesy old movies; to have spent all your money mentally before you've actually been paid; to make sure you do your "sexy exercise" (e.g. belly dancing) when your partner is home so they can enjoy it too; to spend far too much time reading books; to be in your twenties and wear t-shirts with messages in rainbow writing; to have no religious beliefs; to spend less than $100 (or even $50) on a whole outfit; to have a crazy crush on a same-sex celebrity; to love yourself unequivocally; to be in a good mood even when you've only got $1.60 left after paying your rent; to have sex with the lights on; to snort a little whenever you laugh; to be immensely cheered up by heart-shaped post-it notes; and, to be a little annoyed when a customer is overly rude to you at work.

Really, it's ok!

Until next time, xo.

Thought For The Day

Hello there lovelies,

I was having the most horrible day today - work was so insanely busy that there was no way I could get all my jobs done, I'd hardly had any sleep, I had no money for coffee, and I knew I had to come home and finish (start) an assignment that is due tomorrow. But then I got this email:

When you don't know what to do next, Stacey, sometimes it's because you've already done more than you give yourself credit for. Hey, you don't want to make that mistake again, huh?

Every single day of your life, Stacey, you've moved mountains. And somehow I don't see this ever changing.

You rock - The Universe

It reminded me that things weren't really that bad - after all, I have a job, a bed to sleep in, enough money to pay my rent, and access to a decent education. It also reminded me to step back, take a breath and smile.

Photo by The Boyfriend

If you want to get inspiring notes from The Universe to make you smile whenever you're having a bad day (or just feel plain awesome when you're having a great day), then head over to TUT's Adventurer's Club, and sign up. It is completely free, and although Mike Dooley who runs the place has written lots of books, and various other things, you're not obligated to buy anything. Pretty sweet deal I think. Anything that makes you smile is completely worth it.

Until next time, xo.